HWMBO is opposed to the high prices charged in movie theatres for first-run movies. We have lifetime membership passes to the Prince Charles Cinema, and rarely if ever go to see movies in other cinemas, even though I am a member of the BFI on South Bank and should be going over there regularly to see films. We haven’t been to but one or two films in the Lesbian and Gay Film Festival in the last 5 years. Thus do our tastes change as we both get older. I suspect that the BFI membership will be allowed to lapse at the end of this year.
So I wasn’t surprised when HWMBO arrived home on Saturday from shopping with a large bag of popcorn and a copy of Avatar which he had borrowed from the library on the Walworth Road. He was very proud that he had a coupon allowing him to borrow it for free (I believe it’s normally GBP 1.00) so we get to watch the movie for the price of a bag of popcorn (I think it was about 70 pence, around US$1.10).
So we settled down yesterday evening to watch it, in old-fashioned 2D. The movie was lush, showing what throwing lots of resource at the problem of creating an alien environment can do. I enjoyed the movie itself and, as would be expected, found the Na’vi, with their big wide-set eyes, quite attractive. Interesting that Sigourney Weaver was cast in it, undoubtedly giving rise to memories of the Alien franchise.
The movie must have been even more lush in 3D, with all the jumping off precipices, flying around, and other vertigo-inducing features. I somewhat regret that we didn’t go to see it in 3D—if it is ever shown in 3D here again in a movie theatre, or in the IMAX theatre at Waterloo, I’ll be on it like a shot.
However, thinking of the plot (which was very affecting), my summary, in a phrase: “Cowboys and Indians, and the Indians win this time.”
I expect there will be a sequel (or at least a possible or contemplated sequel) where the corporation that wants the Unobtanium returns with more firepower and engages the Na’vi once again. I don’t know whether this would be a mistake or not. To go as far as Shrek or Toy Story would be quite wrong for Avatar.
I found Avatar to be visually stunning, but the plot? As far as I was concerned, and given the number of older films Cameron seemingly ripped off, it should have been titled Dances With Smurfahontas: The Last Rainforest.
It truly was spectacular in 3D. I think part of the reason is because it was filmed in 3D, rather than being converted like so many recent movies trying to capitalize on Avatar’s success. Of the several 3D movies I’ve seen since Avatar’s release, Avatar was the only one I felt wouldn’t have been better off in 2D.
I hope there’s no sequel. I doubt they could do a sequel justice. Not every sequel can be as successful as the Toy Story sequels (and Toy Story 3 really is fantastic).